Paper Roses

(Xie)

~

Exhausting a rather abrupt sigh while collapsing on my bed, I could only look up to the familiar ceiling as I twirled my hair with my fingers. Recalling the moment I left from this very room some time ago with Pira.

Chuckling slightly as when she pulled me to the other side of that window into her world, I was stubborn to think it was all just a lucid dream.

Her soft words, even when she tried to comfort me were adorable as she had never spoken to anyone before. Being the Universe's artist, I believed she was out of it until she created a single flower with diamond shaped pedals. Its bright and shiny colors were unmistakable as I could never have dreamed of such a thing.

Pira then tells me I am her, chosen, and wants me to learn the ways of drawing the universe along with her. Taken back from the news, I was still stunned about it all. She then turned and opened another window to a beautiful palace, much like the ones I heard about in old stories.

However, it was in the middle of space without any masks for logic or sense of reality. It took me years to realize it as my new kind of normal as time was stopped at and around the palace. What actually took years, in fact, centuries in my world, passed as seconds here in Piras palace.

Its bright colors and shining rays of light made it seem incredible as I soaked in all the warm and new beautiful colors.

Pira had prepared my itinerary to be her apprentice and taught me everything I needed to know about creating artful pictures. With it, I was shocked half to death when Pira suddenly told me my drawings created entire solar systems in other parts of the universe.

My reaction made me uneasy as the power and full front of what she was traning me for was too great for me to handle. No matter how I looked at it, I must had been the only human girl to have the most, eventful lifestyle to date in human history, ever.

Even with the lessons and the importance of color depth, I had grown so accustomed to seeing light and colors that I nearly forgot I was still colorblind when I got back to my world.

Near the end of my traning, Pira gave me her treasured necklace of the first flower she painted for me. Its beauty radiated as a bright star only I could see with color. Others who saw it were stunned by its sole, white and color.

Heading home, I crossed over back to my world and had half a mind to chew out Pira for sending me to the Artic. Thus, it took me a few weeks to get back home to Japan.

Twisting my body after taking a hot bath, I felt the cool cushion of my pillow and molded into my bed. Opening my eyes, I lifted Piras necklace and admired its shining array of colors. It all felt like a freak, and yet, I was here.

Turning around, I put my arm behind my head and lifted my other hand into the air.

Lighting a slight breeze, sunset color, lights began to form around my room as I twirled and made a small bird. Once finished, it landed on my finger gently. Tilting my head, I beaught it closed and blew gently onto it, causing it to flu around smoothly. Hovering above my bed, I relaxed while being greatful I could create my own colors at will.

Stopping just above my nose, it rested its wings and as I peeled into its star filled body, my heart resonated with the calming ecpanse of space within its hue, blue eyes.

["Xie?"] From behind the door, I quickly grabbed the bird and hid it in between my breasts.

Coming inside was Marina with a plate of tea. Smiling as she glanced at me, she began to talk as twitched. Pira told me one important matter that whatver I create, it has its own form soul from what I felt in the moment I made it. Meaning, what I learned can be used for good and the same for bad.

Letting a slight gasp escape as the bird was shuffling between my chest, I better laid down flat. Blushing, the bird suddenly began moving lower into my shorts and in that moment, I let out a slight gasp that Miranda heard.

"Everything alrigh-" Nodding intnetly, Miranda looked down to where I was reluctant to keep my hands away from and her eyes suddenly widened.

"N-noo! W... Agh... Its not-" Looking away in discomfort, she hesitantly turned and left the room urgently. "Its not what-agh.... "

As she left, the bird flew out as I was utterly defeated. Dropping my head on my pillow, I couldn't begin to think what I was going to say to her later.

~

Waking up and stepping out from my room after changing into my school uniform, I looked up to see everyone was eagerly waiting for me outside my door.

"Uh... Yeah? " After several seconds, they all jumped and got along with the day.

Nodding, I heads downstairs to make breakfast and was stunned when the ingredients in the fridge had turned bad. Exhausting a breath, I turned to shout that I would bring food on my way back when everyone was already by the door.

"Okay... Uh, Guess I'll head to school... Now? "

Walking to the door and putting on my shoes, I wondered if Amy was calling in sick. When I asked, Miranda and the twins held grim looks as Amy hadn't gone to school in a while. Pouting, I raced upstairs and made her get dressed for school while dragging her all the way to her school.

~

Dropping her off, she gulped and held my hand as I hugged dher and gave her an encouraging thumbs up. Nodding, Amy caught her breath and headed isnide. As she walked, I took a closer look at her new haircut and smiled as she looked much more pretty than before.

Heading off to school, by the time I walked through the gate and went inside. Walking to the main office, I had my absences to make up and stepping out out to head to my class.

The moment I walked back into my homeroom, I remembered Kira abruptly. Everyone was amazed I was here as they stood up and crowded me in the middle of class.

"Where were you?! "

"Do you need help catching up for the last few weeks?! "

Over whelmed by the sudden burst of attention, a loud smack by the teacher sent everyone back to their seats. Thanking her, I heads dto my seat and found it had been cleaned to shine.

~

School soon passed as everyone continued to crowd me even at my lunch break. Wondering where Rin and Mia were as I didn't see nor did I hear any mention of them anywhere.

As I was heading home, I stopped before roudning the corner at the school gate and heard a couple of girls talking about me and Rin.

"That's true... We have to prioritize Xie and do a better job at protecting her so she doesn't end up like Rin. "

"There's no question about it, I've already called my home and sent my servants to survey the area around the school and her home... If anyone suspicious appeared, I'll know. "

Worried about this conversation, I continued listening.

"Had we been more weary with Rins safety, s wouldn't have ended up like that pretty girl delinquent Xie hung about with... I didnt like her one bit, but, its still a pretty messed up thing that happened. "

"Since its all in the past now, its our duty as Rin's last remaning ghost followers to keep our Xie safe... I regret what we did to her, which is why I'm sparing no expensive to keep her safe. "

As they continued their conversation as they left the school grounds, I walked around and headed home a different way.

Worried and scared half to death, my only option was to head to Rins home and check in on her.

But, by the time I got there, her home had been closed off to the public as official police tape hung over the front door and gate.

Dropping my school bag, I froze in absolute terror as a dozen thoughts passed around my head all at once.

"... What happened... Rin... "

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